[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21060]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, next week we will begin to debate the 
nomination of Judge John Roberts to be America's Chief Justice. I am 
confident it will be a continuation of a process that has been quite 
dignified and civil. We will continue that momentum as we go through 
next week. A final vote on his nomination will be held on Thursday, and 
I look forward to a full and robust debate that brings credit to this 
great institution. Our duty to advise and consent on the selection of 
Supreme Court Justices is perhaps one of our most solemn obligations. I 
thank my colleagues for their continuing hard work in this regard.
  In summary, the order we have laid out provides that we will begin 
the Roberts nomination on Monday. We were prepared to have Senators 
deliver opening statements during Friday's session. However, nobody has 
come forward with a specific request to speak. Therefore, we will 
return on Monday and proceed to executive session to begin that debate.
  I mentioned earlier that we will vote on Monday, and Senators should 
expect that vote to begin somewhere around 5:30. We are clearing a 
number of legislative items, and we will announce on Monday what that 
vote will be.
  I encourage my colleagues to take advantage of Monday and early 
Tuesday to speak on the Roberts nomination. Senators should not delay--
please do not--their statements until Wednesday. The vote on the 
nomination will be next week. We will be prepared to remain in session 
as late as necessary to accommodate Members' speeches. I know that most 
all Members will either want to come to the floor or submit their 
statements to the Record, and we will accommodate them. Again, I 
encourage them, so we won't have this great rush on Wednesday or 
Thursday morning, to come Monday and Tuesday and make their addresses.

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